Fans Going

Artists

Show Info

The 2013 edition of Grateful Dead Night continues in proper Ashkenaz style with Stu Allen & Mars Hotel, playing five nights this month (Sep. 6, 11, 18, 25, and 28), each with different music and often different guests joining the band. A tradition started back in the 20th century, Ashkenaz’s Grateful Dead Night is always evolving. In November 2011 singer-guitarist and GDN regular Stu Allen launched his ever-morphing Mars Hotel band, a changing cast of friends who are also plugged into the Dead magic. They include familiar songs – especially of the Dead variety – as well as Allen’s own compositions, which they use as launching pads for flights of stellar improvisation. Note that very few, if any, songs are repeated from week to week, or month to month. And you never know when Allen and crew will do a whole theme night, such as Jerry Garcia Band tunes, or slip in some Dylan favorites that were covered by the Dead.
Even after well over a year of kaleidoscopically shifting shows that are attracting a free-dancing crowd of young and old, Stu Allen’s musicianship continues to draw raves. He and bandmates combine faithful arrangements on great songs with breathtaking improvised leaps. Allen is one of the leading figures in the jam band and Dead-inspired community, featured in such groups as Front Street, Melvin Seals & JGB, and Workingman’s Ed. He has performed at the annual Jerry Garcia Day concerts in San Francisco’s McLaren Park and even led an entire day at the Dead on the Creek festival featuring his various bands. He has also played with Bob Weir, Steve Kimock, Warren Haynes, and numerous other prominent musicians.